Platinum Triselenide, PtSe3, has been obtained as a black, flocculent precipitate by reduction with formaldehyde of a solution of an alkali chlor-platinate in the presence of a selenite and an excess of alkali.
The reaction may be represented as follows:
K2PtCl6 + 3SeO2 + 8HCHO + 12KOH = PtSe3 + 6KCl + 8HCOOK + 10H2O.
Upon heating to dull redness in a current of carbon dioxide, platinum triselenide is converted into the diselenide, PtSe2, which is left as a greyish black powder. |